Split-level directing guide for rolling mill gathering tables



Feb. 18, 1964 w. J. HILL ETAL 3,121,484

SPLIT-LEVEL DIRECTING GUIDE FOR ROLLING MILL GATHERING TABLES Filed Jan.21, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3' INVENTORS William HI'ZZ BY Norman D. FayFMJLQKI 9 H firms SPLIT-LEVEL DIRECTING GUIDE FOR ROLLING MILL GATHERING3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1963 IN VENTORS ZI/I'ZZI'am HillBYnOTmaLTL D. Fay fauna, fifi wd H orneys Feb. 18, 1964 w. J. HILL ETAL3,121,434

SPLIT-LEVEL DIRECTING GUIDE FOR ROLLING MILL GATHERING TABLES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan, 21, 1963 INVENTORS William HI'ZZ BY normam D.Fay

United States Patent 3,121,484 SPLIT-LEVEL DIRECTING GUIDE FDR ROLLINGMILL GATHERING TABLES Wiliiam J. Hill, Worcester, and Norman D. Fay,Northboro, Mesa, assignors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester,Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Ian. 21, I963, Ser. No.252,629 3 Ciaims. (El. 19339) This invention relates to a feed mechanismor directing guide for a rolling mill. It more particularly pertains toa switching means for directing successive lengths of product from amerchant mill alternately into two different paths such as to twogathering tables.

The directing guide of this invention is used for the same purpose andis an improvement over the one described in US. Patent Number 3,073,426(Ser. No. 38,507, filed June 24, 1960 by the present inventors). Thedirecting guide of this patent consists of two independent elongateddual channel guides one of which can be shifted horizontally to receivebar stock from the delivery table alternately in each of its channels ortroughs. The two channels of the other guide are shifted vertically toreceive lengths of bar stock alternately from each channel of the othermember and direct them to the gathering tables. While the directingguide of the patent operates very satisfactorily it does consist of twoindependent directing members and thus might be considered to be undulymechanically complex.

In the improved directing guide of the present invention, the horizontaland vertical movements of the guiding channels are consolidated in asingle four channel assembly. This results in a simpler, more efllcientmechanical design.

The drawings attached to and forming a part of this specification, andthe following description made with reference thereto, will serve tomake this invention clear.

In the drawings, FIGURES 1 through 7 are plan views of the directingguide proper showing the guide in its successive different positionsduring operation;

FIGURES 1a through 7a are schematic end views of the guide, as shown inFIGURES 1 through 7, respectively, as viewed from the delivery table,the view being indicated by the direction arrows. FIGURES 1a through 7ashow the floors of the channels as being about level in the differentpositions of the guide for purposes of clarity; but in actual practicethey do not quite match, as is shown in FIGURES 8 through 11;

FIGURES 8 through 11 are perspective drawings of the guide in itsdifferent operating positions, FIGURE 8 corresponding to FIGURE 1,FIGURE 9 corresponding to FIGURE 3, FIGURE 10 corresponding to FIGURE 4,and FIGURE 11 corresponding to FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the direction guide complete with top coversand FIGURE 13 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 1313 ofFIGURE 12. FIGURE 12 indicates by means of dotted lines how the topcovers and the upper horizontal surfaces may be swung aside to allowcobbles to be removed. FIG- URE 13 shows the pivoting arrangement usedto allow vertical and horizontal movement of the directing guide, and

FIGURES 14 and 15 illustrate by top and elevation views respectively themeans for vertically and horizontally positioning the end of thedirecting guide with respect to the delivery table.

The same numbers are used for the same elements throughout the drawings.Only the first of the drawings in the series of FIGURES 1 through 7,FIGURES la through 7a and FIGURES 8 through 11 are completely numberedto prevent undue repetition.

Referring to the drawings, the element 5 at the left of the directingguide is a partial view of the end of the delivery table at the entranceof the guide and the passageways 6 and 7 to the right or exit end of theguide are troughs of the two gathering tables with a divider 8therebetween. The directing guide proper, i.e. without top cover andmeans for pivoting the top cover and the upper horizontal surfaces,consist of left and right elongated members about feet long generallyindicated by the numbers 10 and respectively. Members 10 and 30 haveupper horizontal surfaces 11 and 31 respectively extending the lengththereof, lower horizontal surfaces 12 and 32 respectively, upper outerside walls or outboard vertical surfaces 13 and 33 respectively attachedto the upper horizontal surfaces and extending the length thereof whichact as retaining side guides, and lower outboard vertical surfaces 14and 34 respectively that taper from full trough width at the entrance ofthe directing guide to zero trough width at a point about 13 feet back.In addition each elongated member has an upper inboard vertical surfaceor dividing side guides 15 and 35 respectively attached to the upperhorizontal surfaces 11 and 31. These are about 7 feet long and run fromthe end adjacent the gathering tables to a point less than midway of thelength of the guides and short of the point where surfaces 14 and 34come to zero trough width.

As shown in FIGURES la through 7a the horizontal and vertical surfacesof each elongated member in cross section form two L-shaped (or reverseL-shaped in the case of the right member), passageways one above theother with the under side of the upper horizontal surface acting as anenclosing top surface for the lower passageway. The members 10 and 30are adjacent to each other so that the respective passageways can bebrought into register to permit mill product to transfer from the lowerhorizontal surface of one to the upper horizontal surface of the other.

Referring to FIGURES 13 through 15, the two elongated members arepivotedly mounted at the ends adjacent to the gathering tables for bothhorizontal and vertical movement of the end adjacent to the deliverytable. As illustrated, the delivery guide as a whole is mounted in arigid fabricated steel frame only a portion of which is shown. Frame 40is supported on four heavy duty wheels 41, 42, 43 and 44. The wheelsroll on suitable rail sections 45, 46 and 47 and permit the frame tooscillate in a horizontal plane, as indicated by the dotted lines inFIGURE 14, to alternately align the front ends of the elongated members10 and .30 with the delivery table 5. A vertical kingpin 48 on a rigidmount 49 is located on the center line between the two elongated membersand engages a socket in the rear of frame 40. This forms the pivot pointof the horizontal motion.

The rear ends of the elongated members are mounted on a commonhorizontal shaft '50 which permits them to be pivoted in verticalplanes. The other ends of the elongated members Itl and 30 are supportedby a horizontal walking beam type of dual crank. This dual crankcomprises a driving means 51 with driveshaft 52, and a crank arm 53connected thereto and to a connecting rod 54. Connecting rod 54 attachesto a crank arm 55 on the walking beam 56 and when it reciproeates backand forth it causes the Walking beam to oscillate about pivot 61 whichis rigidly mounted by means not shown. One end of the walking beam 56 isattached by vertical strut 57 to a rigid car 58 on an elongated member30 and the other end connects with a similar ear 59 by means of avertical strut 60 to member 10. Linkages 57 and 6%) are slightly offseton a horizontal shaft, not shown. This arrangement simultaneously causesone elongated member 3 to raise and the other to lower with harmonicallybalanced motions when driving means 51 is operating.

Referring again to FIGURE l4, horizontal motion is imparted to thedirecting guide by means of a motor 73. which is connected by crank arm72 to a connecting rod 73. Connecting rod 73 is aiiixed to a link 74 bypivot 75 which is rigidly attached to the front end of frame 40. Pivot75 is also attached by links 76 and 77 to a fixed anchor point 78 ondelivery table 5. When driving means '71 operates, the reciprocation ofconnecting rod 73 acting through the linkages results in members 16 and3% being horizontally positioned harmonically to alternately receive barstock from delivery table 5.

FIGURES l2 and 13 illustrate the top moveable covers and the means forswinging aside both the top covers and the top horizontal surfaces 11and 31. The ends of the horizontal surfaces 11, 31, 12 and 32 aredownwardly inclined somewhat as shown in FIGURES 8 and 11 and accountfor their appearance in this drawing. This inclination is to facilitateentry and passage of the mill product. The top covers of the elongatedmembers and 3t comprise horizontal members 80 and 31 which do not extendthe full length of the passageway. Attached to the inner edges thereofare vertical enclosing walls 95 and 96. Covers 3i) and 81 are rigidlymounted on supporting struts 82 and 83 on member 10 and 84 and 85 onmember 30. These supporting rods are pivotedly mounted on horizontalpins 36 and 37 which in turn are firmly mounted on elongated members it?and 30 as shown. The upper side walls 13 and 33 are integral with theupper horizontal surfaces 11 and 31, forming an L-shaped unit. Eachintegral L-shaped unit is attached to vertical arms '88 and 89 and 90and 91 which are also pivotedly mounted on horizontal pins 86 and 87. Bythis means either of the top covers can be independently swung aside topermit access to horizontal surfaces 11 and 31, or the covers along withthe horizontal surfaces 11 and 31 can be opened to permit access tohorizontal surfaces 12 and 32. It can be seen from FIGURE 13 that theportions of the upper L-shaped channels that can be moved in this mannerdo not extend the full length of the directing guide but terminate at apoint 92 in front of the inboard sidewalls and 35.

The operation of the directing guide is as follows: When it is intendedthat a first length A of mill product go into trough 6 of the leftgathering table, elongated member 30 is positioned horizontally to lineup with the delivery table 5 and is elevated so that the lowerhorizontal surface 32 is about on level with the surface of the deliverytable. The front end of length A enters the lower passageway of member30 in this position. Membeiid at this point is in a lowered position sothat its upper horizontal surface 11 is able to receive the mill productfrom the lower passageway of member 30. This position is shown inFIGURES 1 and la. When this position is reached, the front end of lengthA enters the lower passageway of member 3%, strikes sidewall 34 and isthus guided to the horizontal surface 11 of memher it It continues topass to the left of inboard wall 15 and into trough 6. The directingguide is then shifted horizontally by means of motor 71 so that memberit) aligns with delivery table 5 as shown in FIGURES 2. and 2a and thelength A is directly being passed into trough 6. Member 10 is thenelevated while length A continues to pass therethrough and member 38 issimultaneously lowered as shown in FIGURES 3 and 3a. The lowerpassageway of member 10 is thus in position to receive the next closelyfollowing length B of mill product as shown in FIGURES 4 and 4a anddirect it to the upper horizontal surface 31 of member 30 and thus intotrough 7 of the gathering tables. Thereafter the horizontal position isagain shifted to align member 30 with the delivery table as shown inFIGURES 5 and 5a and member 3d is then elevated and member 19 depressedas shown in FIGURES 6 and 6a which thus puts the 4 lower passageway ofmember 30 in position to receive the next length C of mill product asshown in FIGURES 7 and 7a. This completes the cycle.

Driving means 51 and 71 are, of course, properly synchronized to operatein harmony. The movement of the directing guide can be activated withrespect to the time the shear makes a parting cut or the ends of thelengths of mill product can be observed in some manner such asphotoelectrically to activate the directing guide.

The relative level of the guide with respect to the delivery table canbe changed as desired by any suitable means to facilitate passage ofdifferent sizes of mill product e.g. round, then 4" x 4 angle. The wholeof the directing guide may also be slightly inclined towards thegathering tables.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the device of thepresent invention makes it possible to direct closely spaced successivelengths of mill product alternately to troughs 6 and 7 withoutinterruption, no matter how closely the front end of a following bar isto the rear end of a preceding bar. This apparatus operates smoothly anddirects the mill product positively to the proper path without damagethereto. The directing guide is not dependent upon very accurate timingand functions during the relatively long interval of time when the millproduct is passing through it and not during the very short intervaltime between the adjacent ends of successive lengths. Its constructionis simple and maintenance problems are reduced to a minimum.

In summary, this invention is an improved switching mechanism fordirecting successive lengths of mill product from a delivery table of arolling mill alternately to two cooling beds. The switching mechanismconsists of right and left contiguous elongated guides, each of whichhas an upper and a lower passageway with the floors of the lowerpassageways tapering from full floor with at the entrance to zero floorwidth at a distance about /3 to /3 the length of the guides. During onepart of the cycle of operation of the switching mechanism, the lowerpassageway of one guide communicates and is level with the upperpassageway of the other at a point in advance of the point of zero floorwidth so that the mill product can transfer from the lower passageway ofthe one guide to the upper passageway of the other. The guides arepivoted at their exit ends for vertical and horizontal movement of theentrances of the guides. A positioning mechanism alternatelyhorizontally and vertically positions first one guide and then the otherto receive mill product with the lower passageway of one guide beingpositioned to receive a length of mill product when the upper passagewayof the other is in a lowered position to receive the length.

By mill product is meant a rolled product produced by Merchant mills andsimilar mills such as reinforcing bars, small flats, rounds, angles andchannels.

Having described this invention, what is sought to be protected byLetters Patents is succinctly set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rolling mill having a directing guide interposed between adelivery table and two gathering tables and adapted to direct successivelengths of mill product from said delivery table alternately to saidgathering tables, an improved directing guide comprising, in.combination: right and left mating elongated directing members adjacenteach other and pivotedly mounted at the ends thereof adjacent saidgathering tables for horizontal and vertical movement of the endsthereof adjacent said delivery tables, each of said right and leftdirecting members having an upper horizontal surface and a lowerhorizontal surface, outboard vertical surfaces extending upwardly fromeach of said horizontal surfaces and for the length thereof, and aninboard vertical surface extending upwardly from said upper horizontalsurface from the end thereof adjacent said gathering tables to a pointless than midway of the length thereof, the outboard vertical surface ofsaid lower horizontal surface tapering from full trough width at the endthereof adjacent said delivery table to zero trough width at a pointshort of said inboard vertical surface; means for alternatelyhorizontally positioning said right and left elongated directing membersto receive lengths of mill product from said delivery table; and meansfor alternately vertically positioning the ends of said lower horizontalsurfaces adjacent said delivery table with respect to the level of thesurface thereof, the lower horizontal surface of each member beingpositioned to receive a length of mill product from said delivery tablewhen said member is horizontally positioned therefor and the othermember at that time being in a lowered position to receive said lengthof mill product on the upper horizontal surface thereof.

2. The delivery guide of claim 1 comprising in addition thereto hingemeans for said upper horizontal surfaces adapted to permit swinging eachof said upper horizontal surfaces up and away from the center line ofsaid delivery guide to allow access to said lower horizontal surfaces,and top covers for the passageways defined by said upper horizontalsurfaces, said top covers being hinged for swinging each up and awayfrom the center line of said delivery guide to allow access to saidupper horizontal surfaces.

3. A switching mechanism adapted to direct successive lengths of millproduct from a delivery table of a rolling mill alternately to twocooling beds, comprising in combination: right and left contiguouselongated directing members each comprising a lower passageway and anupper passageway directly thereabove, said passageways each having afloor and an outer vertical guide wall with the outer vertical guidewalls of said lower passageways tapering from full floor width at theentrance to zero fioor width a distance in the range of /3 to /2, thelength thereof and when aligned the lower passageway of one membercommunicating with the upper passageway of the other member in advanceof the point of said zero floor Width whereby mill product can betransferred from the lower passageway to the upper passageway, saidright and left contiguous elongated members being pivotedly mounted atthe exit ends thereof for vertical and horizon tal movement of theentrances of said passageways; and means for alternately horizontallypositioning said right and left contiguous elongated directing membersand means for vertically positioning said lower passageways to receivelengths of mill product from said delivery table, the lower passagewayof one member being positioned to receive a length of mill product whenthe upper passageway of the other member is in a lowered position toreceive said length therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS3,073,425 Morgan Jan. 15, 1963

1. IN A ROLLING MILL HAVING A DIRECTING GUIDE INTERPOSED BETWEEN ADELIVERY TABLE AND TWO GATHERING TABLES AND ADAPTED TO DIRECT SUCCESSIVELENGTHS OF MILL PRODUCT FROM SAID DELIVERY TABLE ALTERNATELY TO SAIDGATHERING TABLES, AN IMPROVED DIRECTING GUIDE COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION: RIGHT AND LEFT MATING ELONGATED DIRECTING MEMBERS ADJACENTEACH OTHER AND PIVOTEDLY MOUNTED AT THE ENDS THEREOF ADJACENT SAIDGATHERING TABLES FOR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE ENDSTHEREOF ADJACENT SAID DELIVERY TABLES, EACH OF SAID RIGHT AND LEFTDIRECTING MEMBERS HAVING AN UPPER HORIZONTAL SURFACE AND A LOWERHORIZONTAL SURFACE, OUTBOARD VERTICAL SURFACES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROMEACH OF SAID HORIZONTAL SURFACES AND FOR THE LENGTH THEREOF, AND ANINBOARD VERTICAL SURFACE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER HORIZONTALSURFACE FROM THE END THEREOF ADJACENT SAID GATHERING TABLES TO A POINTLESS THAN MIDWAY OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, THE OUTBOARD VERTICAL SURFACE OFSAID LOWER HORIZONTAL SURFACE TAPERING FROM FULL TROUGH WIDTH AT THE ENDTHEREOF ADJACENT SAID DELIVERY TABLE TO ZERO TROUGH WIDTH AT A POINTSHORT OF SAID INBOARD VERTICAL SURFACE; MEANS FOR ALTERNATELYHORIZONTALLY POSITIONING SAID RIGHT AND LEFT ELONGATED DIRECTING MEMBERSTO RECEIVE LENGTHS OF MILL PRODUCT FROM SAID DELIVERY TABLE; AND MEANSFOR ALTERNATELY VERTICALLY POSITIONING THE ENDS OF SAID LOWER HORIZONTALSURFACES ADJACENT SAID DELIVERY TABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE LEVEL OF THESURFACE THEREOF, THE LOWER HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF EACH MEMBER BEINGPOSITIONED TO RECEIVE A LENGTH OF MILL PRODUCT FROM SAID DELIVERY TABLEWHEN SAID MEMBER IS HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED THEREFOR AND TION TO RECEIVESAID LENGTH OF MILL PRODUCT ON THE UPPER THE OTHER MEMBER AT THAT TIMEBEING IN A LOWERED POSITION TO RECEIVE SAID LENGTH OF MILL PRODUCT ONTHE UPPER HORIZONTAL SURFACE THEREOF.